Obiettivo TO FORMULATE CATALYSTS, ACTIVE FOR DIRECT OXIDATION OF METHANOL IN A FUEL CELL. THESE WILL CONSIST OF PLATINUM GROUP METALS ON AN OXIDE SUBSTRATE TO GIVE A SYNERGISTIC OXIDATIVE EFFECT, AND INCLUDE A STUDY OF CATALYST SYSTEMS DISPERSED ON AN INERT CARBON SUPPORT. PROMISING SYSTEMS WILL BE TESTED AS FUEL CELL ELECTRODES. THE FUEL CELLS COULD ULTIMATELY BE USED FOR A WIDE RANGE OF PURPOSES. Research concerning the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) anode reaction has investigated the role of the carbon support, platinum and the cocatalyst, and the effect of the electrolyte composition and pH.Platinum surface chemistry was found to be more complex than previously thought. It was proposed that more than type of platinum(11) oxide can be formed under load conditions, one form of which may act as a poison and one which can enhance methanol oxidation. Further, it has been shown that a significant acid catalysis effect occurs on platinum below about pH 3, suggesting that hydrous oxides may be involved in the catalytic process. A wide range of transition metal compounds including gas phase catalysts and hydrous base metal oxides have been screened for cocatalyst activity in an attempt to find a cheaper and/or more effective alternative to ruthenium. No real improvement over the platinum ruthenium system has been found, and this may reflect the possibility that provisions of 'active oxygen' is not rate limiting in the best of these electrodes. It is possible that oxidative chemisorption becomes the limiting step below about 0.3 V. Comprehensive in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies have shown substantial differences in the nature of the adsorbed organic species between planar and dispersed platinum. In particular, the levels of the poison carbon monoxide appear to be much lower on the latter.New ground has been broken in the use of catalysts based on the transition metal macrocycle compounds for electrooxidation. The use of these materials either as oxidation catalysts in their own right or as precursors for highly dispersed systems should prove a fruitful area for future development in electrocatalysis.SUB-PROJECT 1. OXFORD. - SUBSTRATE: MATERIAL SELECTION, PREPARATION, ACTIVATION - BINDER: MATERIAL SELECTION, OPTIMIZATION OF BINDER - SUBSTRATE RATIO IN ELECTRODE FABRICATION - ELECTROLYTE: SELECTION, OPTIMIZATION OF PH, FABRICATION OF 3-PHASE INTERFACE. - CATALYST: SELECTION, DISPERSION ON SUBSTRATE, TESTING, MODIFICATION - TESTING: INDIVIDUAL ELECTRODES, UNIT CELLS - IF APPROPRIATE. SUB-PROJECT 2. OXFORD. RESEARCH FOR CATALYST SELECTION. - REQUIREMENTS OF CHEMICAL STABILITY - SOURCE OF LOW-CURRENT LOSSES - ELIMINATION OF SELF-POISONING - IMPROVEMENT OF HIGH-CURRENT LOSSES - NOBLE-METAL/OXIDE/SUBSTRATE SYNERGISMS - ROLE OF COUNTER CATION IN ACTIVE OXIDES. SUB-PROJECT 3. JOHNSON-MATTHEY. CATALYST PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION. - SUBSTRATES: CHARACTERIZATION, SURFACE STUDIES - CATALYST PREPARATIONS: SELECTION OF DEPOSITION METHODS, OPTIMISATION OF PREPARATIVE ROUTE - CATALYST EVALUATION: PHYSICAL STUDIES, ELECTRON OPTICS ELECTROCHEMICAL EVALUATION - ELECTRODES: SELECTION OF SUPPORT MATERIALS, POLYMER BINDERS, STUDY OF STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS, FABRICATION METHODS, PROBLEM OF SINTERING. SUB-PROJECT 4. JOHNSON MATTHEY ELECTRODE AND CELL TESTS, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS. - ELECTRODE ACTIVITY TESTING - CONSTRUCTION OF TEST CELLS AND APPARATUS, ELECTRODE EVALUATIONS. - DURABILITY TESTING: CONSTRUCT AND COMMISSION DURABILITY TEST CELLS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM - ELECTRODE TEST PROGRAMME: EVALUATION OF ELECTRODES SELECTED FROM ACTIVITY TESTS; - EFFECTS OF SINTERING. FOLLOWING A MILESTONE AT 24 MONTHS: - ENGINEERING ANALYSIS: EXAMINATION OF COMPETING SYSTEMS, APPLICATIONS STUDY, COST CONSIDERATIONS FOR MATERIALS AND FABRICATION. - DIRECT METHANOL FUEL CELL: ELECTROLYTE PROPERTIES / VAPOUR PRESSURE, OPERATING TEMPERATURE, CARBON DIOXIDE REJECTION AND ELECTROLYTE WATER BALANCE. PRELIMINARY DESIGN STUDY. - CONSTRUCTION OF UNIT CELLS. Campo scientifico natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compoundsnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysiselectrocatalysisnatural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metalsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcoholsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells Programma(i) FP1-ENNONUC 3C - Research and development programme (EEC) in the field of Non-Nuclear Energy, 1985-1988 Argomento(i) Data not available Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinatore THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo University Offices, Wellington Square OXFORD Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Collegamenti Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato Partecipanti (1) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto JOHNSON MATTHEY PLC (TRADING AS SYNETIX) Regno Unito Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Blounts Court, Sonning Common RG4 9NH READING Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato
